2014MASSACHUSETTS UMASS FOOTBALL MASSACHUSETTS AT 2014VANDERBILT MINUTEMEN • SEPT. 13, 2014 • 12:00FOOTBALL PM • FSN • VANDERBILT STADIUM MASSACHUSETTS AT VANDERBILT • SEPT. 13, 2014 • 12:00 PM • FSN • VANDERBILT STADIUM UMASS LOOKS TO BUILD MOMENTUM WHAT’S INSIDE ON THE ROAD Page 2 2013 Recap/Weekly Info • Despite the saying that their are no moral victories from a loss, Page 3 Team Notes/Series Info the Colorado game did give fans a glimpse of the improvement of Page 4 Offensive Notes/Quick Facts the Minutemen from week one to week two. UMass looks to con- Page 5 Defensive Notes/Situational Record Page 6 Special Teams Notes UMASS (0-2) at tinue that season-long building process this weekend as it heads Vanderbilt (0-2) to Nashville on Saturday to face Vanderbilt (12 PM ET, FSN). Page 7 Misc. Notes/National Polls Page 8-9 Mark Whipple Bio • The UMass Sports Network will feature Voice of the Minutemen Page 10-11 Roster/Position Breakdown Date: Sept. 13, 2014 Josh Maurer handling play-by-play duties alongside analyst Matt Page 12 Depth Chart/Pronunciation Time: 12:00 PM (ET) Goldstein, and sideline reporter Cody Chrusciel. The game can Page 13 Player Bios be heard live starting at 11:40 AM (ET) on 105.5 FM WEEI (Spring- Site: Nashville, Tenn. SERIES HISTORY Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350) field), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester) and 1200 AM WXKS (Boston/ • Saturday will be the third meeting between Television: Fox SportSouth (FSN) - Bob Rathbun Manchester/Providence). The broadcast is also available online the two programs. Vanderbilt leads the series (play-by-play), Tim Couch (color) through www.UMassAthletics.com and on smart phones and tab- 2-0 with a win in Nashville in 2012 and a win last lets through the TuneIn app. year at Gillette Stadium. Streaming Video: ESPN3/WatchESPN (App) Radio: UMass Sports Network (105.5 FM WEEI • The game will also be televised on Fox Sports South which is available for fans with cable sports package add-ons and satellite QUICK SLANTS Springfield, 1440 AM WVEI Worcester, 1200 AM • After being one of the youngest teams in col- WXKS Boston, 95.9 FM WATD South Shore) - Josh TV subscriptions. The game will also be available online via ESPN3/ WatchESPN (app for mobile devices). lege football over the last two years, UMass had Maurer (Play-By-Play, Matt Goldstein (Color), just 2 redshirt freshmen and no true freshment Cody Chrusciel (Sideline) • This will be the third all-time meeting between Vanderbilt and start against Boston College - In 2013 a total of UMass. The Commodores have won both games over the past two 11 freshmen (true & redshirt) started the sea- Records: UMass is coming off a 41-38 loss son-opener at Wisconsin. against Colorado last Saturday at Gillette Sta- years. The first time the programs met was in 2012 at Vanderbilt, while last year was at Gillette Stadium. The teams are scheduled • After two home games to start the year, UMass dium. Vanderbilt is 0-2 this season after an ranks 2nd in the MAC in attendance with an aver- to conclude the four-year series in 2018 with UMass hosting. opening week loss to Temple and last week’s age of just over 20,000 fans per game. • Following this game, UMass will stay on the road with a trip to • Tight end Jean Sifrin’s second touchdown re- loss to Ole Miss. ception against Colorado was the No. 7 Play of Rankings: Neither team is ranked. Penn State. The Big Ten Network announced on Monday that the game will start at 4 PM. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Day on Sports Center last Saturday. Since UMass Coach Mark Whipple: Whipple returns to 2012, UMass football has produced three plays the two programs. UMass after coaching stints in the NFL and at that have been featured. • The next UMass home game will be on Sept. 27 against Bowling • Cornerback Randall Jette posted his second the University of Miami. Whipple is most well- straight game with an interception last Satur- known for leading UMass to the I-AA National Green in the first game back at McGuirk Stadium since the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The game is anticipated to sellout day against Colorado. He is also the last player Title in 1998 which was his first year as head for UMass to have interceptions in two straight as it will also be Homecoming. UMass played its games at Gillette coach of the Minutemen. games which he did in 2012. Stadium exclusively during 2012 and 2013 as McGuirk was reno- • Tajae Sharpe’s 77-yard touchdown reception Vanderbilt Coach Derek Mason: Derek Mason is vated with the new Football Performance Center and the Martin against Boston College was the 9th longest in in his first year as head coach at Vanderbilt after And Richard Jacobson Press & Skybox Complex. program history. taking over for James Franklin. • 15 players made their UMass debut against Bos- ton College including QB Blake Frohnapfel. UMASS MEDIA RELATIONS Address: 290 Boyden Building MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN VANDERBILT COMMODORES Amherst, MA 01003 (0-2, 0-0 MAC) (0-2, 0-1 SEC) Phone: 413-545-1744 Date OPPONENT TELEVISION TIME/RESULT Date Opponent TIME/RESULT Fax: 413-545-1752 AUG. 30 Boston COLLEGE ESPN3 L, 7-30 08/28/14 TEMPLE L, 37-7 Website: www.UMassAthletics.com ESPN3 Asst. AD/Media Relations (FB Contact): SEPT. 6 COLORADO L, 38-41 09/06/14 OLE MISS * L, 41-3 John Sinnett Sept. 13 at Vanderbilt FSN Noon 09/13/14 MASSACHUSETTS 11:00 A.M. CT EMail: [email protected] Sept. 20 at Penn State TBA 09/20/14 SOUTH CAROLINA * 6:30 P.M. CT Cell: 413-687-2237 SEPT. 27 BOWLING GREEN * TBA 09/27/14 at Kentucky * TBA Second FB Contact: Cody Lahl EMail: [email protected] Oct. 4 at Miami (Oh) * TBA 10/04/14 at Georgia * TBA Cell: 845-750-4225 Oct. 11 at Kent State * TBA 10/11/14 CHarleston SOUTHERN TBA Assoc. Director: Brian Henry OCT. 18 EASTERN MICHIGAN * TBA 10/25/14 at Missouri * TBA Asst. Director: Jillian Jakuba Oct. 25 at Toledo * 2 PM 11/01/14 OLD DOMINION TBA Pressbox Phone: 508-698-1960 ESPN2/ESPNU UMass Twitter: @UMassAthletics NOV. 12 BALL State * 8 PM 11/08/14 FLORIDA * TBA Football Twitter: @UMassFootball Nov. 18 at Akron * ESPNU/ESPN3 8 PM 11/22/14 at Mississippi State * TBA Facebook: NOV. 28 BUFFALO * TBA 11/29/14 TENNESSEE * TBA www.facebook.com/umassathletics YouTube: www.youtube.com/umassathletics GAMES IN Gray at MCGUIRK ALUMNI Stadium 1 2014 UMASS FOOTBALL MASSACHUSETTS AT VANDERBILT • SEPT. 13, 2014 • 12:00 PM • FSN • VANDERBILT STADIUM BOSTON COLLEgE UMass was unable to keep up with Boston College, dropping the season open- AME EEK er 30-7 before a record home crowd of more than 30,000 at Gillette Stadium. G W AUGUST 30 MAC WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE BC’s Tyler Murphy ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, while also completing ILLETTE TADIUM Every Monday morning through the end of the sea- G S 17-of-24 for 173 yards and a TD and an interception. UMass’ Blake Frohnapfel son, the MAC Football Conference will conduct a 3:00 PM EST was 9-of-22 for 147 yards, including a 77-yard scoring toss to junior Tajae teleconference with each of its head coaches. The L, 7-30 Sharpe. The 30,479 marked a school record for a UMass home game. teleconference will start at 9:20 a.m. with a brief COLORADO Blake Frohnapfel threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns but Colorado recap of the weekend’s action and other pertinent managed to overcome a 11-point deficit to defeat UMass 41-38 at Gillette information. Following that, each head coach has SEPTEMBER 6 Stadium. UMass finished with 371 yards and collected 23 first downs. The an assigned 8-minute slot to discuss his team and GILLETTE STADIUM Minutemen also rushed for 125 yards and had two scores on the ground. its upcoming opponent, and field any questions from 3:00 PM EST The back-and-forth contest saw 845 yards of total offense, including 585 the media. For numbers and codes to access the call, L, 38-41 through the air. please contact Ken Mather in the MAC Office at (216) 566-4622 or e-mail at [email protected]. The AT VANDERBILT This will be the third all-time meeting between Vanderbilt and UMass. The Commodores have won both games over the past two years. The first time conference call will also be available online at www. SEPTEMBER 13 the programs met was in 2012 at Vanderbilt, while last year was at Gillette mac-sports.com. VANDERBILT STADIUM Stadium. The teams are scheduled to conclude the four-year series in 2018 WEEKLY UMASS SPORTS LUNCEHON 12:00 PM ET with UMass hosting. Head coach Mark Whipple will be in attendance FOX SPORTS NET and available to the media at select UMass Sports PENN State Luncheons, held each Wednesday at 12:15 p.m., normally in the Massachusetts Room located in the SEPTEMBER 20 Mullins Center. In addition, the UMass Athlete of the BEAVER STADIUM Week and his or her coach will be available to the me- TBA dia. Lunch for the media is provided free of charge. Please contact the UMass Media Relations Office by BOWLINg gREEN Monday if you will be attending the luncheon so we can make the necessary reservations. SEPTEMBER 27 MCGUIRK STADIUM COVERING PRACTICE 3:00 PM All practices are closed to fans and the media.